Agriculture

More on Agriculture

“The passage of this bill is welcome news throughout eastern Connecticut. This farm bill agreement includes many important provisions aimed at providing support and a level playing field for established crops and farm commodities in our region, while breaking down barriers to developing others,” Courtney said.

“Without the federal funding provided by CDBG program, our local municipalities would struggle to fund valuable public services and housing assistance programs that are often taken for granted,” said Courtney. “CDBG has become a critical vehicle for getting federal dollars into the hands of local governments who need this annual cash infusion to maintain these services and programs. Proposals to eliminate CDBG would have a devastating impact on our region and our state, which is why I will continue to work across the aisle to preserve this vital program as Congress debates the 2019 budget in the weeks ahead.”

(Norwich, CT) —Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) announced that the USDA will be reopening enrollment for the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP) that will allow dairy farmers across the country and in eastern Connecticut to reassess their safety net coverage under the MPP. These changes were authorized under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 passed in February.

“With imported seafood making up 90% of American seafood consumption, our nation should be focusing on programs to expand and improve our domestic aquaculture industry,” wrote the members. “Sea Grant is a program that does just that—helping fishermen and shellfish farmers navigate a complex patchwork of state and federal coastal zone management regulations through technical assistance. Sea Grant works with local producers to grow and sustain their business models while connecting them to local resources to share best practices.”

Courtney joined Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (PA-05) in introducing H.R. 4101, the School Milk Nutrition Act of 2017, which will ease unnecessary regulations preventing milk consumption in school lunch programs. The bipartisan bill recognizes the importance of milk to the health and well-being of school children. It also works to improve the variety and availability of milk offered in schools, which was supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue earlier this year.

“With imported seafood making up 90% of American seafood consumption, our nation should be focusing on programs to expand and improve our domestic aquaculture industry,” wrote the members. “Sea Grant is a program that does just that- helping fishermen and shellfish farmers navigate a complex patchwork of state and federal coastal zone management regulations through technical assistance. Sea Grant works with local producers to grow and sustain their business models while connecting them to local resources to share best practices.”

“America needs a new generation of farmers, now more than ever,” said Courtney. “The number of new farmers entering the field of agriculture has dropped by 20 percent, while the average farmer age has now risen above 58-years-old. The skyrocketing cost of higher education and the growing burden of student loan debt are presenting major obstacles for young farmers. The burden of student loan debt can thwart their ability to purchase the farming operations they need to get started or drive them away from a career in agriculture altogether. This legislation would assist new farmers during the costly, initial phases of opening a farming business, and allow them a fighting chance to build a life on the farm for themselves and their families.”

“Our dairy farmers have been hit extremely hard by low farm milk prices that have sharply reduced incomes,” wrote the members. “Globally-depressed prices are hurting U.S. farmers, and leaving the dairy industry with few options to deal with the glut of low-price milk on global markets. These dairy farms make up the backbone of our rural economy, and farms both large and small act as economic drivers, providing local jobs and supporting a wide array of other businesses. If we have any hope for our rural economies to rebound and grow economically, we must act quickly to address the financial crisis hitting the nation’s dairy farms.”

“The dairy industry in Connecticut and across the country is continuing to struggle with tight margins and decreasing milk prices,” said Courtney. “While I appreciate USDA’s quick response to our urgent request for assistance for our dairy farmers, it is clear that this modest first step does not go far enough to make a substantial difference on the ground. I will continue to work with my colleagues to find long-term, comprehensive solutions to lift up our nation’s struggling dairy industry.”

“The USDA ‘beginning farmers’ grant is great news not only for student farmers at UConn, but for the entire Connecticut farming community,” said Courtney. “We should be doing everything we can to support young people who want to enter this field of work in order to maintain Connecticut’s traditional farming industry.”